Moanalua’s Matautia selects UH volleyball

Moanalua High volleyball player Austin Matautia can touch a height of 11 feet, 5 inches off a three-step approach.

Matautia’s leap of faith in the University of Hawaii volleyball program is equally impressive.

Matautia recently signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Rainbow Warriors for the 2016-17 season. Long before making an oral commitment in April, Matautia had his sights on Manoa.

"The difference between Hawaii and the other schools is the community," Matautia said. "It’s a family. It’s like they take care of (players) like they’re their own child. It’s not like anywhere else. It’s really big in Hawaii."

Jack Reese, a 6-foot-7 middle blocker from Fox Chapel High in Pittsburgh, and Everett Schuett, a 6-6 opposite/middle from Westlake High in Thousand Oaks, Calif., also made written commitments during this signing period. Both also will enroll in August.

Matautia, who was ranked No. 3 on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s 2015 Fab 15 All-State team, took the circuitous route to UH. His parents met in Germany while playing for their respective All-Army volleyball teams.

Matautia was born in Tripler Hospital. He lived two years in Japan and seven years in Korea before returning to Honolulu in 2008. His sister, Gabby Matautia, who played at Temple, has followed UH volleyball for several years.